Open Season for Linux Contests

Contests, at their best, can highlight creative thinking and originality.  In the Linux community, there seems to be an serious overabundance of both.  Four different contests — all starting this January — are doing their best to crowdsource and give out significant prizes to the winners.  Vote, participate, or just soak it all in, these contests are great ways to get involved.  

For one — the Linux New Media Awards — I’m a judge and would love to have your input.  See the categories below and if you have suggestions on who I should vote for, please email me at amanda (at) linux-foundation (dot) org.

The four contests all involve creativity, judges, and significant prizes including a trip to France for one, and a trip to Japan for another.  So, whether you look at these contests as a chance to show off your video skills, go after real prize money, or just a fun way to participate in the big, online discussion that is Linux, there’s room for all.

So, don’t sit on the sidelines.  Get involved.  Let the contests begin.

*** “Think Inside the Box” Contest

Cisco’s Application eXtension Platform (AXP) developer contest, termed the “Think Inside the Box” contest, is offering Linux developers $100,000 in cash prizes.  The AXP is a Linux blade server running Linux kernel 2.6 and is compatible with Fedora Linux.  The skills and knowledge of Linux development used in the contest are the same skills used in general Linux application development on servers.  Brian Proffitt of the Linux Developer Network blogged <a href=”http://ldn.linuxfoundation.org/article/cisco-developer-contest-brodges-gap-between-networking-development“>about the details</a> and reasoning behind this contest being sponsored by Cisco.  Here’s the <a href=”http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/routers/ps9701/white_paper_c11_459082.html“>Cisco Application eXtension Platform Overview</a>. And <a href=”http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps9701/products_data_sheets_list.html“>here’s a number of examples</a> of how Linux can be used to run server applications from inside of the Cisco Integrated Services Router (ISR).  There are over 5 million Cisco ISRs currently deployed.  All of these routers can accept the Cisco AXP Linux blade server.

More information can be found on the Cisco Innovation blog <a href=”http://blogs.cisco.com/innovation“>here</a>.

*** The “I’m Linux” Video Contest

The idea is simple.  Create a video that explains why Linux is great.  You can parody the “I’m a PC, I’m a Mac” ads, you can go serious, you can go crazy.  It’s up to you.  The contest opens January 26 and will close at midnight Pacific Time on March 15, 2009.  It’s judged by a panel of open source and advertising professionals.  Judging criteria will be based on originality, clarity of message, and how much it inspires others to use Linux.  The judges will also take into account community votes on The Linux Foundation video site such as number of favourites and starred voting.  The winning video will be unveiled at The Linux Foundation’s Collaboration Summit in San Francisco on April 8, 2009.  The winner will receive a free trip to Tokyo, Japan, to participate in The Linux Foundation Japan Linux Symposium in October 2009. There are already some very cool entries. 

Contest rules and guidelines are available here:  http://video.linuxfoundation.org/category/video-category/-linux-foundation-video-contest

*** Linux New Media Awards

The Linux New Media Awards recognize the most significant products, projects, people, and organizations related to Linux during the calendar year, 2008.  Instead of trying to cover all categories each year, they select a few specific topics that “represent the major themes and trends of the past year.”  Only products, projects, people and organizations that have been prominent in 2008 will be nominated.  The Linux New Media Awards will be presented during CeBIT Open Source in Hannover, Germany, on March 5, 2009.

As I mentioned above, I’m a judge and would love your input for the categories below.  Please drop me a line with your suggestions at amanda (at) linux-foundation (dot) org

Categories

– Outstanding Contribution to Open Source / Linux / Free Software

– Most Linux / Open Source-Friendly Hardware Vendor

– Most Innovative Open Source Project

– Best Open Source Contribution for Mobile Devices

– Best Open Source Programming Language

– Most Significant Contribution for Security in Open Source

*** Trophées du Libre 2009 (The Free Software Development Awards 2009 or “TL09″)

Trophées du Libre looks for the “best existing free software” in seven project categories.  Registration is now open through February 15.  This is the fifth year of the competition, and last year there were over 149 projects from 29 different countries.  The panel of judges is composed of about 30 experts in the open source field including developers, researchers, journalists, business managers, and company owners.  The winner of each category will be presented with $3800 to be put towards funding their project.  

The Trophées du Libre 2009 award ceremony will take place in May in France.  For more information: http://www.trophees-du-libre.org